The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate and Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as ‘Yayi’ has mourned veteran actor Taiwo Hassan Ogogo, revealing that he and his family stood by the late actor’s side throughout his illness and did everything within their power to ensure he received proper medical care.
In a tribute signed alongside his wife, Temitope Adeola, and shared on Facebook on Monday, the senator said news of Ogogo’s passing came with a profound sense of sadness and loss, made even more painful by the courageous battle the actor had fought and the collective hope that had surrounded his recovery.
“We received with profound sadness and a deep sense of loss the news of the passing of our dear brother and veteran actor, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo),” the statement read. “His death is painful, particularly after the courageous battle he fought and the collective hope and prayers for his recovery throughout the period of his illness and treatment.”
Adeola said his family had remained closely involved through the difficult period, backing Ogogo’s treatment and holding on to hope that he would recover.
“During those difficult moments, we stood closely with him and his family, supporting his treatment and doing everything humanly possible to ensure that he received the necessary medical care,” he said. “We remained hopeful and prayerful that he would overcome the illness and return to the family, friends and countless admirers who cherished him. Sadly, despite all efforts, it has pleased Almighty God to call him home. Indeed, God knows best.”
For Adeola, Ogogo was more than just a familiar face in the industry, he was family and a source of pride for his hometown. He described the actor as a “dear brother” and a proud son of Ilaro and Ogun West whose career spanned generations and helped shape the growth of Nigerian cinema.
“Alhaji Taiwo Hassan was more than an accomplished veteran of the entertainment industry to us; he was a dear brother and a proud son of Ilaro and Ogun West, whose remarkable career brought joy to generations and contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Nigerian film industry,” he said. “His talent, humility and enduring body of work will ensure that his memory lives on.”
The senator extended condolences to Ogogo’s wife, children and entire family, as well as the people of Ilaro and Yewaland, his colleagues and associates in the entertainment industry, and everyone whose life he had touched, saying they shared in the grief of “this sad and irreplaceable loss.”
He closed the tribute with a prayer for the departed actor: “We pray that Almighty Allah forgives his shortcomings, accepts his good deeds, grants him Al-Jannah Firdaus, and gives his family and all of us who mourn him the strength and fortitude to bear this painful loss.”
Adeola’s message comes after Ogogo’s daughters, Kaira and Lima Taiwo, had publicly acknowledged his support during their father’s battle with illness. In an earlier appeal for medical help, Kaira had specifically thanked Adeola for stepping in to assist with the actor’s medical bills, while making clear that the family’s appeal was for medical intervention rather than financial donations.
Ogogo died at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the age of 66, a passing first announced by veteran actor Jide Kosoko. His remains were moved to his hometown of Ilaro, Ogun State, on Sunday, ahead of his burial on Monday, where he was laid to rest according to Islamic rites as family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers gathered to bid him farewell.
The actor had been battling stage-four cancer, with his daughters revealing that doctors had eventually stopped his chemotherapy due to his deteriorating condition. Ogogo remains one of the towering figures of Yoruba-language cinema, leaving behind a career that spanned more than four decades and hundreds of film credits.
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